Chelsea midfielder Ramires cannot wait for the new Premier League season to get underway, after being informed by new boss Jose Mourinho that he tried to sign him during his spells as coach at Inter Milan and Real Madrid.

Ramires is currently enjoying a welcome summer break after being omitted from Brazil's Confederations Cup squad by national team boss Luiz Felipe Scolari, allowing him to fully focus on finally working with Mourinho when the new Premier League season gets underway.

"I'm hugely excited about getting down to work with Mourinho," Ramires is quoted in the Daily Mirror. "He called me a few days ago out of the blue, which was a surprise to me.

"We talked a lot and he said a lot of nice things to me, including the fact that he tried to sign me from Benfica when he was at both Inter Milan and Real Madrid. Mourinho told me he was very happy to have me at Chelsea. I was very glad to hear that and told him he can count on me.

"He spoke of his excitement too and knowing how much he wanted to work with me, made me even more motivated for next year. I have a feeling that it will be a very good season for us."